by T. L. Quinn
I smile back at him. This is the Parker I know. He smiles then too, “Hey, there’s my beautiful Ava smile.” He playfully taps me on the nose.
I bite my bottom lip between my teeth to stop my smile from growing even bigger. Parker lets out a small laugh, and knowing I’m the one who made him happy when he was having a rough day does something inside me. I don’t know if it’s because of the alcohol or because I found out him and Nina broke up, but without thinking about it, I raise myself up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his.
It feels like time stands still as I just stand there with my lips pressed against his. For a moment, it feels like he starts to kiss me back, but then suddenly his hands are wrapped tightly around my arms and he is pushing me away hard.
His eyes are wide staring back at me and his voice comes out harsh. “What are you doing?”
I just stare back at him not knowing what to say. I always knew Parker was just a fantasy, and he wouldn’t ever consider being with me, but actually standing here and being rejected by him shatters my heart into a million pieces. “I-...I didn’t…”
He just continues staring at me while I try to think of something to say. I don’t know what to do, so I just turn and run out of the kitchen before he can stop me. I run upstairs to my bedroom and lock the door behind me. Once I am all alone on my bed, I grab one of the stuffed animals I have sitting on it and squeeze it tight to my chest as I cry. The rejection hurt, but the tears I am crying are not one of hurt but of grief. Grief that I have to let go of Parker because things can never be the same between us again. Not now.
Chapter 1
Present Time
Parker
The doorbell to my apartment rings, and I head to answer. I sign for the box of items that were shipped from my office. The only reason I made my dickhead of an ex-boss mail me the items was because he legally had to. Well, technically I had the option of coming in and picking up the few desk knick knacks I had acquired over the past few years, but we both knew that wasn’t going to happen.
It’s not like I needed the bobble head a customer gave me or the stapler with my name on it the guys at the office got me for my 3 year anniversary at the company, but I thought, hey, why the fuck not make that fucker spend $8.50 to ship it to me after he fired me over some dumb technicality. The real reason I was fired was because I found him fucking my girlfriend of 2 years in my own bed.
The man had the audacity to say I exposed confidential information to people outside of my own department. Technically he was right since Ellie could login to my laptop at home, but we both worked at the same company, and she had her own laptop. She only ever logged onto mine if hers was updating or something.
I set the box on my coffee table and collapse on my couch. I blow out a breath and put my face in my hands. How did I get to this point in my life? Everything was going as I had planned. I moved away from the city six years ago when I got the job at the financial consulting firm I’ve been at ever since. I started as a basic advisor and worked my way up. I would have been made partner within the next couple of years if the whole Ellie disaster didn’t happen.
I seriously don’t know how I didn’t see that coming. I mean it’s not like me and Ellie were talking marriage or anything yet, but I thought we were pretty serious. She basically lived with me for the past year even if she did keep her own apartment. I guess that should have set off some red flags. Is it bad to say I am more upset about the job than about losing Ellie?
Maybe it’s because anything I may have felt for her vanished when I found her in bed with another guy. I don’t know. I just felt like I was finally going places with my career, and now I have to start over. It’s not like I couldn’t get another job, but it’s hard to explain getting fired to the next employer, especially when I am trying to make partner.
I blow out another breath and grab my phone. I can’t believe I am about to do this. I click on Doug’s name, and it starts ringing.
“Hey Parker!”
“Hey Doug, I decided to take your brother up on his offer.”
Doug shouts out, “Yes!” I hear him yelling over to Becca. “Our boy is coming back home!”
I laugh. “Back home? I’m only an hour away.”
Doug laughs too. “Yeah, well that hour always gives you an excuse to ditch me when we are trying to hang out.”
I huff out a laugh. “Oh really? I thought you were the one ditching me because Becca was ovulating and you needed to bang all weekend.”
“Hey, that was one time! Now I know her ovulation schedule, so I won’t ask you to hang out that day until we are pregnant.”
I laugh again. “Yeah okay. Well, I’m packing tonight. How about you come over tomorrow and help me get everything loaded into the moving truck?"
Doug is quiet for a minute. “Hmm...I might need to check Becca’s ovulation schedule.”
“I thought you knew it!”
Doug laughs. “I’m kidding. I’m kidding. I can be there at four. That work?”
“Sounds good. See you then man.”
“See you then. And Parker?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you’re gunna be back.”
I look down at the ground thinking for a moment. I am glad I am going to be moving back close to my friend too. I’ve missed Sunday dinners and feeling like part of the family. I am just not so sure about working with Ava. I can’t let Doug know that though, so I just agree. “Yeah, me too.”
I mean it’s not like I have much choice. I needed a job, and Doug’s brother offered me one. I couldn’t say no, especially not with how much money he was offering. I just hope I can handle seeing Ava again.
Chapter 2
Ava
“You did what?” I ask into my phone again, thinking I must have misunderstood my dad the first time. He just keeps saying the same thing. though.
“Ava, I told you already. I hired Parker to manage your business finances for at least the next six months.”
I shake my head still not believing him. I haven’t seen Parker since the day I ran out of the kitchen on him.
He left a couple weeks later to move a little out of the city for his new job. I guess that is why him and Nina broke up back then. He wasn’t serious enough about her to ask her to come with him.
I can feel my blood start to boil with anger. “Why on earth would I need Parker to handle my finances?”
I am still pissed at Parker. Even though it's been six years since I’ve last seen him, I still feel the hurt just as much now that he is back in the picture.
After he left, he never came to see me. I knew things would be different after I tried to kiss him, but I thought we would still see each other every now and then. Except whenever he came to visit Doug, he would make sure they had plans to be somewhere, or it would be an odd day of the week so he never had to come to any parties or events where I would usually see him. It felt like he was avoiding me, and that hurt me worse than I thought it would.
My dad just sighs. “Ava, you know numbers have never been your strong suit. I know you are good at what you do, but if you are spending too much to get the results, then it is not worth it in the first place.”
I continue to protest. “Why can’t I just come up with a budget again with Ralph in accounting?”
My dad laughs. “Oh, like last time when you just used the other business credit card when you reached the limit we set on your own, and then when you reached that limit, you used your personal card that conviently gets paid off directly from my account?”
I shrug my shoulders like he can see me through the phone. “I promise that won’t happen this time. I will stick to the budget.”
My dad just sighs again, and I know I’ve lost this battle.
“Ava honey, it’s more than that. He will be analyzing our previous spend and help us with forecasting for the future along with monitoring your purchases. He is very good at what he does, and I am hoping when his six months are up, he’ll come join us at corp
orate.”
My mouth hangs open to protest again, but I don’t know what else to say. I can’t exactly tell my dad why I don’t want to be around Parker. Like sorry dad, you can’t hire him because I was totally in love with him for years and when I tried to kiss him, he pushed me away and then avoided me for the next six years.
I suddenly feel nervous about seeing Parker again. I mean, I am not the same girl I was six years ago, and I am sure he is not the same either, but I’m still scared I’ll still have the same feelings for him when I see him again. I mean it’s not like I’ve been pining over him all these years. I’ve dated plenty of guys. It’s just…I don't know. I guess it’s true what they say how you never quite get over your first love.
Ugh. It’s fine. I am not going to let him get to me. I’ll just pretend he means nothing to me. If he didn’t care enough to want to see me for the last six years, then I certainly won’t be welcoming him home with open arms.
“Fine dad. But don’t think I am happy about this. I will probably continue to fight you on it the whole time.”
He laughs. “I wouldn’t expect anything less sweetheart.”
I sigh. “So, when exactly does this all start.”
My dad clears his throat. “Tomorrow.” He mumbles.
“Excuse me? Did you just say tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. Gee, thanks for the advance notice dad.”
He just laughs again. “It’s not like you have to prepare anything for him sweetie. I am giving him full control over all the spending accounts and credit cards starting immediately tomorrow though, so any purchases you need to make will need to go through him.”
I start to yell, “Wait, what?” but my dad cuts me off. “Gotta go sweetie. Talk to you tomorrow!”
Then he hangs up without waiting for my response. He knew that last part wouldn’t be okay with me. Not that I have a choice. He is my boss after all, but, still, he knew I wouldn’t let that slide without a fight.
I drop the phone back into my pocket and walk back into my aunt’s living room. Me and Becca were just having an early girls night since tomorrow is Monday. We do this often when the family can’t get together on Sundays. We just have a couple glasses of wine and paint each other’s nails or watch cheesy movies that the guys don’t like.
I glare at her when I enter the room, and she just puts her hands up in defence. “What did I do?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Did you know about Parker?”
Becca’s smile grows, and I know she knew before I did.
“Becca! Why didn't you tell me?”
“Hey! In my defence, I just found out about it on Friday. He just decided to come.”
Decided? That makes me think of a question. “Why is he coming back anyway? I thought he was like doing really well at his company.” I pause. “I mean that’s what you told me. I don’t go checking up on him or anything.”
I only follow him on all the social media accounts, but I follow people I went to highschool with too. It doesn’t mean anything.
Becca raises her eyebrows at me. “You mean you didn’t hear?”
“Hear what?”
She laughs. “I thought for sure great aunt Ella would have told you by now.”
I grin because usually I am number one on aunt Ella’s call list. “I missed our last few calls. What’s going on?”
Becca gets comfortable on the couch and starts sipping her wine. “So basically, you know that girl Ellie that he’s been dating?”
I nod my head. Unfortunately, I’ve definitely seen her in all his pictures. She’s pretty hard to miss. She has bright red hair that is obviously dyed but still makes her look stunning because it contrasts with her bright green eyes. She is super thin like a supermodel but somehow she still miraculously always has hefty cleavage. I don’t even understand how someone that thin could hold up
those boobs.
“Well, the story goes...or this is how Doug tells the story. Parker came home one day and found Ellie in bed with their boss. Of course, he dumped her sorry ass, but the damage was already done and the firm fired Parker on a technicality.” I open my mouth and stare at her shocked. Well, I wasn’t expecting that. “Seriously?”
Becca nods her head enthusiastically. “Yes, and Parker was worried about finding another job with having to put down he was fired from his last job, so your dad offered him a six month contract so he can have something else on his resume as his previous job. Although, I know your dad and Doug both want him to stay long term. Maybe you could help convince him to stay since you’ll be working so closely together. He always had a soft spot for you.”
I just stare back at her. “I don’t know Becca. We’ll see.”
◆◆◆
Parker
I pull into the parking garage of the office building downtown and give the parking attendant my name, so I don't have to pay to park. I’ve only been back in town since Friday, and it feels strange being in the city again. Like somehow I never left. Everything is all so familiar.
I walk into the office building, and I check in with reception. I tell her I am here to see Ava. We are meeting with her dad Peter, but I want to see her first without him. I haven’t seen her since that night in her kitchen when she kissed me.
I still think about that kiss sometimes. I wanted so badly to kiss her back, but I couldn’t do that. She was way too young for me and not to mention my best friend’s niece. I didn’t want to take advantage of her. Plus, I could taste the champagne on her lips. She wasn’t herself. I definitely would’ve felt like a dick if I kissed a drunk nineteen year old, but speaking of dicks, mine definitely wanted her back. I mean what guy wouldn’t?
Sure, she’s a typical spoiled rich girl, but the way her soft, blonde hair was dangling over her exposed shoulders in that white cocktail dress she was wearing that showed off way too much of her long, toned legs, and when she pressed her chest against me....God.
Even though she was at least nineteen, I still felt like a creeper for wanting her, so I let her go and I’ve been avoiding her ever since. I know that was a dick move. I could tell she relied on me to be there for her. She always did. Ever since her mom’s funeral, she’d always come to me with her problems and would leave with a smile on her face.
That was the problem though. I couldn't have her coming to me anymore. Not now that I know the way her lips taste. I wouldn’t have been able to control myself, so I took the easy way out and left without saying goodbye.
I just hope she doesn’t still hold that against me.
The receptionist points me to an elevator and tells me to go up to the 30th floor where someone will be able to show me where Ava’s office is. When I look at the list of floors on the sign on the wall, the 30th is just simply the PR department. I didn’t realize they needed a whole floor just for that, but apparently that’s what big companies do.
I walk off the elevator toward another reception desk. The young girl behind the desk asks me to follow her to find Ava. Apparently, she doesn’t stay in her office often. We walk over to a large open area with desks and papers and clothes laying all around. The receptionist tells me this is the creative space. I imagine Ava spends a lot of time here.
The receptionist points me in the direction of a few people talking. Then I see her. Ava.
The first thing I notice is her smile. She is laughing with a few of her colleagues. Her smile is just as beautiful as ever. I’m so happy her smile hasn’t changed. She didn’t let this world destroy her joy even without me reminding her to smile every time I saw her.
It doesn’t take long though for my eyes to start scanning the rest of her body and just damn. How am I supposed to work with her for the next six months? If I thought she was beautiful before, now she is stunning.